In the midst of a bidding war with Paramount, Trump purchased bonds from Netflix and Warner Bros

According to federal records, US President Donald Trump purchased more than $1.1 million worth of Netflix bonds during the previous three months. As the streaming behemoth lost its bid to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery against Paramount, Skydance.

In two transactions on December 12 and 16, Trump purchased more than $500,000 worth of Netflix bonds. In two further transactions on January 2 and 20, he purchased more than $600,000 worth. Instead of providing precise figures, the White House revealed a range of slightly over $1.1 million to $2.25 million.

The purchases coincided with the Republican president and his regulatory representatives disparaging Netflix in the media. Raising concerns about the deal’s ability to resist antitrust review and putting pressure on the streaming behemoth to remove Susan Rice, a former adviser to President Barack Obama.

The report does not specify if he sold the bonds or when, so it is unclear if he profited or lost money on the Netflix notes, which matured in November 2029 and paid an interest rate of 5.375%.

Conflict-of-interest regulations that forbid other executive branch officials from investing in businesses that do business with the government do not apply to Trump or prior US presidents. It is thought that he bought the bonds through a trust that his kids were in charge of.

According to White House spokesperson Anna Kelly, «President Trump’s assets are in a trust managed by his children.» «No conflict of interest exists.»